The Exhibitor (1956)

Weeks Sees Upsurge In Boxoffice Receipts MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 9 Paramount Backlog, New VV Lineup Provide Strong Program For 1957 Washington — It was predicted by Com¬ merce Secretary Sinclair Weeks in his New Year’s Eve forecast of business that boxoffice receipts of motion picture the¬ atres in 1957 will exceed the estimated $1.3 billion figure for 1956. New feature films will be reaching the screens, he explained, and they are “ex¬ pected to represent an important factor in maintaining high boxoffice level re¬ ceipts.” The cabinet member also predicted that the foreign market for U. S. films will continue to expand with remittance from abroad higher than the $210 million estimated for 1956. Likewise, equipment manufacturers should face no serious supply problems in 1957, international complications bar¬ red; however, the picture for theatre con¬ struction is not rosy in all parts of the country. This will be due to delays in obtaining steel in certain forms and shapes and other building problems. Schine ( Continued from page 7) ployee of Schine Chain Theatres, also participated in the scheme, including the acquisition of theatre in Fostoria by Darnell, an acquisition that the Schine defendants could not make directly. Hildemart and Darnell also were used to conceal acquisition of half interest in a corporation which leased Margie Grand, Harlan, Ky., and to acquire the Rialto, Massena, Embassy, and Maryland, Cum¬ berland, Md., and Weddington, Pikeville, Ky., it was ruled. Hildemart was used to conceal acquisition of equipment, while Darnell had arrangements to operate theatres of Lazar Theatres, Inc., from which Darnell received 75 per cent of the profits, the Judge said. When this plan was rescinded in 1952, the Schine brothers transferred Darnell’s interest to Hildemart’s subisidary, Elmart, which then was used to acquire additional theatres in New York State, it was further decided. Judge Burke rejected a defense con¬ tention that market conditions made the divestiture difficult, if not impossible. Still pending is a civil contempt action which, if won by the Government, would requirq the defendants to comply with the order in the future. Schine Interests Appeal, Charge Court Erred In Ruling An appeal for arrest of judgment and a new trial was filed by the Schine Theatre interests. . In an 18-point petition, defense counsel Frank G. Raichle contended that Judge Burke erred in his finding against the defendants, and was asked to submit oral arguments on Jan. 14. It was indicated • at the time of filing that the date for oral arguments might be delayed at least one week and that the Government filing of any order of judg¬ ment to pave the way for sentencing of the defendants would be delayed until after such arguments. Raichle stated that a basic error in the Court’s ruling was in its finding that there was a basic market for the theatres to be divested, after it had excluded defense testimony purport¬ ing to show that there was no market. "Squaw Man" Site Dedicated ' As Feature Film Birthplace HOLLYWOOD— The famed “barn” on the Paramount lot last fortnight became a state registered landmark as California in ceremonies attended by civic and social officials extended his¬ torical recognition by dedicating it as the official birthplace of the feature length motion picture. The barn, which has been main¬ tained in a fine state of preservation and is now used as a studio gym¬ nasium, was leased by Cecil B. DeMille on Dec. 16, 1913, for use in pro¬ ducing “The Squaw Man.” TO A Urges New Look At Foreign Product New York — Ernest G. Stellings, presi¬ dent, Theatre Owners of America, last fortnight announced a new service for members in the nature of a new sup¬ plement to the monthly bulletin of the organization to be issued regularly and containing complete information on all available foreign and independent prod¬ uct, names and addresses of distributors, current and future realeses, and other in¬ formation in connection with production, distribution, and booking of specialized films. Said Stellings, “There has long been a need for this service. Many exhibitors are unable to obtain information on this potential source of product. With the current product shortage, exhibitors are most eager and keenly interested in learning more about the use and avail¬ ability of specialized foreign films and other independent productions. The TOA will continue its efforts to encourage more production from all sources. We urge all exhibitors to take another look at these types of films. They may have great potential boxoffice value in many situ¬ ations.” The directors will be under the direct supervision of TOA’s specialized foreign film committee consisting of Walter Reade, Jr., chairman; Myron N. Blank, E. D. Martin, Marvin Goldman, Walter L. Morris, and Carl E. Anderson. Brotherhood Plans Set New York — The National Conference of Christians and Jews has set Feb. 17-24 for its annual observance of Brotherhood Week, it was announced by William J. Heineman and Spyros S. Skouras, Jr., national co-chairmen of the amusement industry’s Brotherhood Drive. The 1957 Drive will be launched at the industry’s 12th Annual Brotherhood Din¬ ner on Jan. 24 in the grand ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York, honoring Jack L. Warner. During Brotherhood Week there will be an intensive membership drive and fund raising campaign at more than 15,000 theatres throughout the country. New York — In what is regarded by the company as the strongest program in its history, Paramount last week announced its schedule of top films for 1957, all in VistaVision. At the same time, Para¬ mount has an impressive list of films, al¬ ready finished shooting, awaiting release during the current year. They are “The Rainmaker,” co-starring Burt Lancaster and Katherine Hepburn; “Gunfight At The OK Corral,” co-starring Burt Lan¬ caster and Kirk Douglas; “Three Violent People,” which co-stars Charlton Heston, Anne Baxter, Gilbert Roland, and Tom Tryon; “Fear Strikes Out,” co-starring Anthony Perkins and Karl Malden; “Omar Khayyam,” starring Cornel Wilde, Debra Padget, Michael Rennie, John Derek, Raymond Massey, Yma Sumac, Maggie Hayes, and Joan Taylor; “Funny Face,” co-starring Audrey Hepburn, Fred Astaire, and Kay Thompson; “Beau James,” starring Bob Hope, with Vera Miles, Paul Douglas, Alexis Smith and Darren McGavin co-starred; “The Buster Keaton Story,” starring Donald O’Connor, with Ann Blyth and Rhonda Fleming as co-stars; “Flamenca,” co-starring Spanish actress Carmen Sevilla and Richard Kiley; “The Delicate Delinquent,” Jerry Lewis’ first solo-starring film, with Martha Hyer and Darren McGavin; “The Tin Star,” starring Anthony Perkins and Henry Fonda; and “The Lonely Man,” starring Anthony Perkins and Jack Palance. Among the outstanding pictures which will go before the VistaVision cameras in 1957 are “Hot Spell,” a Hal Wallis pro¬ duction starring Shirley Booth; “Running Wild,” starring Elvis Presley, produced by Hal Wallis; “Furia,” another Hal Wal¬ lis production, which will star Anna Magnani; “Sad Sack,” also a Hal Wallis production, starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis; “The Five Pennies,” film biography of jazz immortal Red Nichols starring Danny Kaye, to be directed by Melville Shavelson and produced by Jack Rose; “From Amongst The Dead,” tenta¬ tive title of the Alfred Hitchcock suspense thriller which will star James Stewart and Vera Miles; “Shortcut To Hell,, to feature newcomer Robert Ivers, with James Cagney, making his debut as a director and A. C. Lyles to produce; “Teacher’s Pet,” a William PerlbergGeorge Seaton production co-starring Clark Gable and Doris Day; “Desire Un¬ der The Elms,” a Don Hartman produc¬ tion co-starring Sophia Loren and An¬ thony Perkins; “The Matchmaker,” an¬ other Don Hartman production, starring Shirley Booth, Anthony Perkins, and Shirley MacLaine; “Houseboat,” starring Cary Grant, with Melville Shavelson and Jack Rose to produce; and “The Buc¬ caneer,” a Cecil B. DeMille production starring Yul Brynner, which Henry Wilcoxon will produce. Paramount Seeks Record Firm New York — Paramount Pictures was reported last fortnight as negotiating with Dot Record Company and seeking its con¬ trol at a purchase price of $3,000,000. January 9, 1957